Chapter 25. A Place That Could Be Home

The road narrowed as the forest thinned, sunlight spilling between tall pines. Then, with no warning but the scent of chimney smoke and fresh earth, the village revealed itself.

Mira blinked.

It looked like something lifted straight from the pages of a storybook.

Nestled among the trees, timber cottages leaned gently into one another as if in conversation, ivy spilling down sloped rooftops, moss softening every stone. Wildflowers crept along the winding paths, their colors bursting defiantly from cracks and corners. Smoke curled lazily from a dozen chimneys, and somewhere nearby, laughter echoed—bright and unguarded.

“Home sweet home,” Noah said from the driver’s seat, gesturing proudly toward the central square where woven garlands hung between poles. “You’ll love it. My mate’s probably over at the chief’s house—”

“Noah,” Kaelen interrupted, his tone sharper than before. “Later. We need to see Joanne first.”

Noah’s brow ticked up, catching the we